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Posted on: May 13, 2019

Youth Home Director Guilty of Sexual Assault of a Child

A Jefferson County jury found a former director of a juvenile group home guilty of all counts, in two cases, of sexually assaulting youth who lived at the Bridgeway Group Home. William Wayne Sexton, DOB 6-4-1963 was found guilty of eight counts, including three counts of Sexual Assault of a Child by one in a Position of Trust as part of a Pattern (F3); Sexual Assault of a Child by one in a Position of Trust (F4); two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (F4); Unlawful Sexual Contact (M1); and Violation of Bail Bond Conditions (F6).

Between 2015 and 2018, William Sexton was the director of the Bridgeway, a juvenile group home in Lakewood. The Bridgeway group home was contracted through Savio, a non-profit organization that provides treatment and intervention services for youth and families. During this period of time, Sexton sexually assaulted five teenage males who were living at Bridgeway. He befriended and groomed these vulnerable youths. The assaults took place in two locations. The young victims that he sexually assaulted said they saw him as a “father figure”. Sexton also provided and smoked marijuana with one of the boys on numerous occasions. He provided and drank alcohol with another one of the boys.

The jury deliberated just over two hours before they returned their verdict on May 10, 2019.

“Each of these boys was severely traumatized by the abuse at the hands of a man they trusted and looked up to,” said DA Pete Weir, “This verdict is a step towards helping these young victims heal.”

Sexton will be sentenced on June 24 at 8:00. He is being held without bond at the Jefferson County jail. He faces multiple, mandatory indeterminate prison sentences of 8 to 24 years to life.